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Our Members Asked:
Do any supplements help with nerve pain, like sciatica or diabetic neuropathy?
Reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.
Answer:
Several supplements have been shown to be helpful for nerve pain caused by conditions such as sciatica or diabetic neuropathy. These include fish oil, curcumin, alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and GLA, vitamin B12, and benfotiamine. Sign in and read the full answer for details and dosage >>Join today to unlock all member benefits including full access to all CL Answers and over 1,300 reviews.
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Margaret6924
September 6, 2015I have a disc problem with resulting sciatic pain in my legs. Especially bad at night interrupting my sleep. I read an article on the internet that benfotiamine might be helpful. I started with 300 mg. daily. It took about 3 weeks to kick in and the pain was about 90% gone, but three weeks later it returned, so I increased the dosage to 600 mg. daily, and now I can say it is anywhere from 95 - 100% gone.
Also have started exercises to strengthen the back muscles hopefully to eliminate the nerve pain to start with.
ROB8060
November 15, 2015You might want to try to correct the problem from a different angle. I have great success for problems with SI joint pain and knee and the ball of my foot. I used a therapy called Egoscue. It is therapy that corrects posture which when corrected, eliminates pain in the body. You can go to a clinic and buy the book called Pain Free by Pete Egoscue. This is a different approach from physical therapy or chiropractic care.
Susan8076
November 16, 2015Great to hear that you have less pain. I would also recommend SOT chiropractic, which is very gentle approach that corrects pressure in the low back by balancing the pelvis with wedges called "blocks." You can find an SOT doctor by going to www.SORSI.com. I would not recommend a chiropractor who does twisting movements of the low back, though, because the problem might involve a weak or bulging disc and forceful adjustments can cause further damage.
JARKKO17538
February 12, 2019Thanks for the tip. So in your experience 600mg/day works better than 300mg/day.
Pilates classes may help you to remember to use your deep abdominal muscles.
Barbara19379
April 9, 2020I had great success with alpha lipoic acid until it aggravated terribly my esophagus due to reflux. Is there any type of ALA I can safely take? If not, what is the next best option? I have inflammatory demyelinating peripheral neuropathy. Pain is not my problem. I have weakness. When I was taking ALA I felt normal for the first time in 15 years.
ConsumerLab.com
April 30, 2020Yes, alpha lipoic acid is, after all, an acid and it can contribute to acid reflux, as discussed in the "Concerns and Cautions" section of our Alpha Lipoic Acid Supplements Review at https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/alpha-lipoic-acid-supplements/alphalipoic/#cautions. An enteric coated or timed release product may help.
JoDell18659
November 19, 2019What about Ortho-bionomy? Has anyone tried this? Usually done by someone who specializes in Massage Therapy.
Darla11405
November 16, 2016I have sciatic nerve pain due to a back injury that has become fairly regular even after having had back surgery. Also had numbness in my foot. I tried taking alpha lipoic acid 600 mg once daily and it totally took care of the issue. It only took a couple of doses to get relief. However, after about a month or so of taking it I developed an irregular heartbeat. I quit taking it, but it took another month or so for that arythmia to go away. I've not taken it since. The nerve pain returns sporadically, but the numbness in my foot has not returned. So, just wanted to say it does work, but beware of that side effect. Perhaps starting off with a smaller dose would have been better.